Efficient installation of floor coverings
January 2021 – Floor coverings are applied to the lower, structural layer of the floor. They are made of textile, felt, resin, rubber, wood, or other natural or artificial substances. They provide comfort, durability, safety, and decoration. Most often, they are the last detail that significantly affects the overall impression of the room.
Floor coverings can include carpets, rugs, cork, laminate, tiles, wood, and vinyl. Carpets are great for adding comfort, improving room acoustics, and floor protection. They create a warm and pleasant atmosphere in the room. Although the words carpet and rug are often used interchangeably in textile floor coverings, there is a difference between them that is easy to remember. Carpets are attached to the floor and usually cover the entire floor area, while rugs are not attached and rarely cover the entire floor.

Due to high prices, natural hardwood floor coverings are becoming increasingly rare in our homes. Linoleum is a natural material that has been widely used in many homes for years. Because it is high quality, durable and easy to clean, it has become an extremely commonly used floor covering. It is especially appreciated for its environmentally friendly properties. Due to the above, the offer of vinyl floor coverings has grown tremendously in recent years and we can now choose from a very wide range of textures, colors, patterns, and formats. Although linoleum and vinyl are still available in rolls, they are increasingly sold in the form of tiles and planks, which are much easier to install or glue. Vinyl is affordable and can mimic the look of other, more expensive materials such as stone and ceramic tiles.

Floor adhesives are used in finishing works and adaptations in construction and industry, but of course they are also very useful for home use. Floor adhesive is any type of strong, durable adhesive for gluing floor coverings to a substrate. Different types of adhesives are recommended for different floor types, although some multi-purpose solutions can be effectively applied to several different materials. There are several factors to consider when choosing a flooring adhesive. Always refer to the product data sheet of floor covering and adhesive for detailed product information.
The base or substrate is the material directly under the finishing floor. Some adhesives will adhere better to different types of flooring. Moist and lower quality concrete, for example, requires a different adhesive than a floor with dry, quality concrete. If you are installing underfloor heating, you may also need a special glue. Generally, indoor floor surfaces are not exposed to considerable weathering and water damage. However, if you are going to install a floor covering in an outdoor environment, you will need a floor adhesive that will withstand the stress of rain, sun, snow and cold.
When gluing floor coverings, the spreadability of the adhesive is also important. It means how well the adhesive adheres to the trowel or other application tools, and how easy it is to spread it on the substrate. If the adhesive is too spreadable, the application layer will be too thin, which makes it difficult to install the floor covering. In contrast, insufficiently spreadable adhesive is very difficult to spread.

Neostik VARIOCOLL is a one-component self-adhesive dispersion adhesive based on a special dispersion and additives. It is intended for gluing floor and wall coverings made of plastic, textiles, and cork to concrete, plaster and other absorbent substrates. When you decide how much glue you will need for your flooring installation project, you need to consider the size of the space and then add another 10 percent for the waste.

Before gluing, clean the surfaces to be glued of all impurities, oils, greases, paint residues, varnishes, and dust them off. Surfaces must be dry, load-bearing, and free of cracks, and the moisture content must not exceed 3% in concrete substrates and 12% in wooden substrates. The coverings must be laid and thermostated at room temperature (at least 24 hours) before use / gluing. Mix Neostik VARIOCOLL well before use. Apply it to the substrate with a notched trowel with B2 type teeth in an even, thin layer. Wait 25-30 minutes (depending on the temperature and absorbency of the substrate) for the layer of adhesive to dry slightly.

For larger unevenness of the substrate, we recommend spot application of the adhesive on the underside of the covering or application of contact adhesives Neostik UNIVERSAL or Neostik PROFI PLUS. Place the covering in a slightly damp layer of glue and roll it with a metal roller. Smooth from the middle against the walls. Immediately carry out any eventual repairs and keep the room well ventilated. Remove glue stains with water before they dry and remove dried glue stains with organic solvents (e.g., acetone).

The adhesive hardens after one day, and the final bond of joint is reached after a few days. The speed of hardening depends largely on the type of substrate and temperature conditions.
Always follow manufacturer’s instructions when using floor adhesive. Always check beforehand whether a particular adhesive is really suitable for gluing the material to the selected substrate. When using adhesives that are classified as hazardous, always ensure good ventilation, and use the prescribed personal protective equipment.
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are harmful compounds that are sometimes discharged from certain chemical floor adhesives. These compounds can be harmful to indoor air quality and can have a negative impact on living comfort and human health. There are many types of adhesives available with different levels of VOC. If this is an important factor for you, compare similar products and choose the one with the lowest VOC content.